There are more calls for the dismissal of cabinet minister Gerry Byrne.

Byrne drew the ire of the PC’s yesterday when he accused Mount Pearl North MHA Jim Lester as condoning poaching. He also accused St. John’s Centre NDP MHA Jim Dinn of condoning racism. He doubled down on those comments to media this morning.

“If he has any evidence, any information, about poachers and poaching activity which he seems to be endorsing, he should report it to the authorities. But then again, maybe this Honourable Member is not always on the side of the law himself.” – Gerry Byrne

Opposition Leader Ches Crosbie wants Premier Dwight Ball to fire Byrne from cabinet for his accusations and behaviors in the Legislature. NDP Leader Alison Coffin joined the call today.

The relationship between Byrne and the other two parties in the House became strained after news of the mass mortality on the south coast of 2.6-million salmon. It became further strained yesterday during this exchange between Byrne and Lester.

Byrne and Lester fired shots back and forth at each other, in what started out as questioning over farmers having the ability to shoot moose on farmlands after dark.

Lester says moose are eating crops, and some farmers are on the brink of insolvency, but Byrne suggested Lester was endorsing poaching and possibly engaged in criminal activity.

He says if Lester has any evidence or information about poachers or poaching activity, which he seems to be endorsing, he should report it to the authorities. Byrne also said that maybe Mount Pearl South MHA Jim Lester “is not always on the side of the law himself.”

In the same session Byrne accused NDP MHA Jim Dinn of marginalizing Indigenous people.

Coffin says in addition to his “inexcusable” behavior Byrne has been dodging questions about the Northern Harvest die-off for six weeks.

“The NDP Caucus has been seeking answers from government on the death of 2.6 million farmed salmon for six weeks,” said Coffin.

“Minister Byrne has shown no interest in cooperating with the requests and recommendations put forth from the NDP Caucus." #nlpoli

— NL NDP Caucus (@NLNDPCaucus) November 8, 2019